fighting silkie hens

[criddle76]

I have 2 1yr old silkie hens ive never had an issue with them I had to pry them apart from one another twice this morning they were fighting.... anyone have any ideas? ?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Well, being Silkies, first question is are you sure they are hens? My next guess would be one or more is thinking about going broody, some of mine turn from sweet lovable birds into nasty little tyrants when they start laying a clutch.

 

[criddle76]

Lol yes positive that both hens I get a an egg a day from each of them.. oh my I was so upset to see them acting like that they're 2 of 8 grown and 15 8week chicks..

 

[Kelsie2290]

With Silklies that's the only way to be positive (and I want to see two eggs to be 100% sure When they start to fight it does worry you, it is so out of character for most of them, if it is not just a pecking order tiff, my guess is you will have a broody or two in the next couple of weeks, the joys of owning Silkies!

 

[Nocila]

I have a couple of game hens (an old english game, and an asil), and the two of them don't seem to bother each other most of the time. Last year, they both went broody at the same time, and I ended up putting them both in cat carriers to keep them on their nests, because the old english is known to switch nests accidentally. I kept them in the garage, and they weren't far from each other...

One day, after Mamma, the old english, had her chicks, I let her out to walk around with her babies, and started working on filling the asil's water. The asil broke out, and she and Mamma started attacking each other, trying to protect their nests. Hens tend to be extremely protective of their nests, so if they start fighting suddenly, chances are high that at least one, but probably both, are broody, or about to go broody, and are trying to protect the nests they are making...

 

[criddle76]

How will I know if I should leave eggs? Ive never had a broody before.. I collect the eggs everyday neither of them are sitting in the nests.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I leave 6 golf balls in one of the nest boxes when I'm trying to bait a broody. That way there are no eggs to spoil, I can still collect them to get them ready if someone does want to sit and I'm not encouraging mice or other things to come in after them. Some round rocks, ceramic, wooden or plastic Easter eggs would work just as well.